Church planting is one of the most effective ways of expanding the reach of making more and better followers of Jesus. It enables new communities to form around the church and allows for fresh, relevant expressions of faith to take root in different contexts. However, church planting requires significant resources and support, both in terms of finances and people. It takes money to rent or buy a facility, hire staff, and launch a marketing campaign to let people know that the church is there. Additionally, church plants often don't see significant attendance or giving for the first year or two, making it difficult to cover these costs.
This is where generosity comes in. Other churches willing to invest in church planting can help new churches get established, and the impact of that generosity can multiply in amazing ways.
One example of this is 11.28 Community Church, which is located in the Oak Creek area. 11.28 was started in 2020 by a group of people who felt called to create a church that was focused on "doing LIFE differently." A few churches and people in the area saw the potential in this new church plant and decided to support them financially.
The initial generosity that 11.28 received was critical to their success. It allowed them to cover their rent, pay their staff, and launch a marketing campaign that helped them reach new people. However, the impact of that generosity didn't stop there. As 11.28 started to grow, they were able to reach more people with the Gospel. They started to develop relationships with people in their community, and they began to see lives transformed. They started offering programs for kids and teens, and they began to partner with other organizations in the area to serve the needs of the community. They've come alongside the city of Oak Creek to elevate their pre-existing community events to a whole new level. Like their Easter egg hunt each spring. 11.28 was able to purchase hundreds of additional eggs.
The impact of 11.28's generosity multiplied as they continued to grow. They started sending out teams to do service projects in and around Milwaukee. They started to see their own community transformed as more and more people were impacted by the Gospel.
This is just one example of how generosity can multiply through church planting. When churches are willing to invest in new church plants, they are not just helping those churches get established. They are also investing in the expansion of the Kingdom of God. They are helping to create new communities of faith that can impact their own communities and beyond.
As Christians, we are called to live generously. We are called to use our resources to further the work of the Gospel. If you are part of a church that is considering supporting a new church plant, I encourage you to prayerfully consider doing so. Your generosity can have a profound impact on the lives of many people. And if you are part of a church plant that has received generosity from others, I encourage you to pay it forward. As you continue to grow and develop, look for ways to support other new church plants. Your generosity can help create a ripple effect that will impact many lives for years to come.